Exhibiting device



w. F. O'GORMAN 2,649,797 I Aug. 25, 1953 EXHIBITING. DEVICE Filed Dec. 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILL/AM FRAA/C/s o'qo/aMA/v BY g E I I ATTORNEYS Aug. 5 w. F. O'GORMAN 2,649,797

' EXHIBITING, DEVICE Filed Dec. 25, 1950 s Sheets-Shet 2 v INVENTOR.

I WILL/AM FzAn/ c/s o'qoemA/ ATTORNEYS Aug. 1953 w. F. O'GORMAN 2,649,797

EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY .WMW 7 Mme/m6 Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED srATEs es r mr QFFICE William Francis OGorman, New York, N. Y., as- I signor to Lester B.- Stone, New York, N. Y.

Application December 23, 1950, Serial No. 202,499

The present invention relates to an exhibiting device adapted to display a series of panels in sequence and to store and move the undisplayed panels within the device without folding or undue bending of said panels.

Exhibiting deviceshave been produced in the past in which aplurality of display panels secured together by connecting elements so as to define an endless .belt are moved one after the other to an exhibiting station, the panels not in the exhibiting station being stored within the device ready to be exhibited at the proper time. In order to permit an exhibiting device of a given size to contain as great a number of different display panels asis'possible, those panels are generally stored within the device in a stacked condition, the belt being folded upon. itself a plurality of times. In order to bring'thepanels into stacked condition ithas been necessary for them to fold at some point in the course of their travel, or else to be bentrather sharply at various points along their length without any support being provided to limit the: degree of bend. As a result, the panels quickly develop visible folds and creases which at once materially detract from their attractiveness when they are moved to the exhibiting station, and which eventually shorten their effective'life.

In such prior art devices where storage spaces have been provided, at least some of the panels can enter that storage space so as to lie in stacked condition with respect to adjacent panels only by a progressive folding along their entire length, the leading'edge of the panel entering the storage space gressively over and along its length until its trailing edge, which was the last to'enter the storage space, is positioned on the opposite side of its leading edgefrom that which was originally the case. A similar progressive folding action must take place before such panels. can leavethe storage space, since the original leading edge must once again be positioned ahead of the trailing edge along the path of, travel .of the panel.

In the present invention, by means of'a specific arrangement of display panels and connecting elements, all such progressive folding of the display panelsis completely eliminated, and any bending to which the displaypanel is subjected in moving through the device is carefully and rigidly supported and controlled by appropriately positioned guides so that no creasing .of the display panels can occur.- By reason of the design of the exhibiting device of the present invention,

allbends in the display panel havela comparaand the'panel folding pro- 8 Claims. (CI. 40-32) tively large radius of curvature so that the panel itself is protected and its continued attractive appearance and long life is insured. As a result of this invention, a compact and comparatively small exhibiting device can display a large number of panels in succession over a substantially indefinite period of time without any appreciable deterioration of the panels.

The above objectives are achieved by securing the panels to one another by means of connecting elements which have a length at least equal to the length of the panels and which are more freely flexible than said panels. As a result, it is only these freely flexible connecting elements which will undergo progressive folding when entering the storage space, the display panels themselves always entering the storage space in substantially linear condition. In order further to insure that the panels will remain flat and will not take on any semi-permanent curvature or set, the distance between the entrance and exit respectively of the storage space in which the panels are retained in superposed position and the portions of the exhibiting station nearest thereto are made substantially equal to one another and also substantially equal to the length of the connecting elements. Thus, when "a given display panel is at the exhibiting station, where it is customarily retained over an appreciable period of time in order that its legend may be exhibited, all of the other display panels are in the storage space, there resting in flat and unstressed condition. Only the connecting elements secured to the leading and trailing edges of the panel actually being displayed at any given moment are curved or bent, and since these connecting elements are freely flexible and arenever exhibited, no damage is done.

The device of the present invention is composed of a relatively small number of parts easily assembled and of comparatively foolproof operabeing properly positioned at the exhibiting station;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the mechanism sub-assembly enclosed within the cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a front cross sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4 and showing the position which the parts assume when a display panel ha been moved approximately half way from the storage space to the exhibiting station;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational detail view showing the rollers and guides on the left-hand side of the device; and

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the manner in which the connecting elements may be secured to the display panels.

The exhibiting device of the present invention is designed to house a plurality of display panels A and to move them one at a time to an exhibiting station generally designated B where they may be viewed, the panels A not actually being exhibited being retained within a storage space C, preferably in stacked relationship, one above the other, in order to conserve space and permit a device of a given size to contain the largest number of panels A possible consistent with good operation and design. The panels A are secured together by means of freely flexible connecting elements D, preferably so as to define an endless belt, and means are provided for moving the panels A from the storage space 0 to the exhibiting station B and then back to the storage space C, f-urther means being provided to guide and support the panels A in the curved path which they must take in their travel.

In the form here disclosed the panels A are formed of some suitable somewhat flexible but generally stiff material, which bears on its outer surface whatever words, pictures or the like it is desired to exhibit. The exact nature and construction of the panels A may be varied over very wide ranges. They may, for example, consist of a transparent photographic reproduction which may, if desired, be secured between sheets .of transparent protective materials such as cellophane, Lucite or glass. The panels A might consist of a comparatively stifi opaque sheet upon which the desired intelligence is painted or printed. Many other variations will suggest themselves. Whatever the precise construction of the panels A, the one significant factor which characterizes them is that bending of them is to be minimized and folding of them is to be studiously avoided. As here disclosed the panels A are themselves bendable but their structure is such that bending which might occur over asmall radius of curvature would be detrimental to their appearance and life, and even bending over a comparatively large radius of curvature must be closely controlled. It would, of course, be possible, through a redesign of some of the details of the device here disclosed, to utilize panels which were wholly rigid, but a drawback tothe use of rigid panels is the fact that the device would have to be of considerably greater size than that here disclosed for an equal number of panels, because clearance would have to be provided for the ends of the rigid panels as they proceeded along the curved path which they must travel. However the use of rigid panels is within the scope of the broader aspects of the present invention.

The connecting elements D may be .of any freely flexible material such as canvas or cotton tape, secured between the leading and trailing edges l and 3 of adjacent panels A in any suitable manner, as by the use of adhesive strips 5. Since freely flexible material is employed, and since the connecting elements D themselves are not exhibited or displayed, it is quite satisfactory if they are subjected to folding, such folding not being detrimental to their life or mode of functioning. Consequently, the basic design of the device of the present invention revolves about the fact that it is the connecting elements D, and not the panels A, which are subjected to folding or unguided bending.

The device itself comprises a cabinet generally designated 2 within which the moving parts of the device are housed, that cabinet being provided with a window opening 4 opposite the exhibiting station B so that the panels A, when they reach the station B, may be viewed from the outside. The operating mechanism is mounted on base plate I having depending flanges 9 which raise it above the bottom wall of the cabinet.

.In order to align the panel A being exhibited, and to protect it as well, a pair of spaced parallel transparent plates 6 and '8 of glass or Lucite are positioned directly opposite the window 4, the panel A to be exhibited moving therebetween, the ends 6" and 8 of the plates '6 and 8 being spread apart where the panel A enters between the plates 6 and 8 in order to provide a, funnel-like action to guide the panel A between the plates. The plates 6 and 8 are supported on the flange 9 by screws 13, and on cross-bar ['5 by screws 11, the cross-bar IS in turn being secured at the top of the cabinet 2 by means of bracelets I 9 and 2| at either end thereof.

When, as is here specifically illustrated to be the case, the panels .A are transparent, a source of .illumination, such as the bank of lights .I E), is mounted in any appropriate manner behind the plate 5, illumination of the lights I!) shining through .the plates '6 and '8 and the panel A so as to display the panel A .to best advantage.

A pair of flanged rollers 12 and M are rotatably mounted .in the frame 2 between brackets 2| and 19 respectively and the base plate 1, the forward edges 20 and 22 of the unflanged portions of the rollers I2 and I4 being in line with the space between the plates 6 and 8 which defines the exhibiting station B. The vertical distance between the flanges .on the rollers 12 and M is slightly greater than the 'height of the panels A, so that the panels are received between the flanges and are guided around the periphery of the rollers 12 and M.

A pair of arms 24 and '26 are pivotally mounted .co-axial with and respectively above and below the roller I4, these arms being connected together for simultaneous movement by means of pins '28, and having flanged roller 3!) rotatably mounted between their extremities, the shaft 32 of the roller 30 extending downwardly through a slot 34 in the base plate 1 of the mechanism and there being engaged by spring 38 the other end of which is anchored at '40 to the base plate I. The roller 30 has a thick portion 42 of reduced height disposed approximately midway thereof, the height of the portion 42 being approximately equal to the height of and in line with the connecting elements 13, in which in turn have a height considerably 'less than that of the panels A.

Roller 44 is fast on shaft 4-5 which is rotatably mounted between the bracket [9 and the base plate 1 just to the "rear of the roller 30, the roller 44 having a thick portion 48 of a height substantially equal to that of the thick portion 42 of the roller 30 but centrally separated by a portion 48 of reduced diameter. The shaft 45 of the roller 44 extends below thebase plate I and has a pulley 50 secured thereto, a motor 52 being mounted on the base plate I and having its shaft 53 extending therebelow with pulley 54 secured thereto, a belt 56 operatively connecting the pulleys 54 and 50 so that rotation of the motor 52 will cause rotation of the roller 44. The spring 38 is so oriented that the roller 30 is resiliently urged toward the roller 44, the portions 42 and 4B of those two rollers tending to engage one another and to drivingly grasp the belt defined by the panels A and connecting members D which is threaded therebetween. I

Behind the light source I0, and separated therefrom by wall 58, which acts as a heat-insulative medium, are a plurality of partitions 60, 62, 64 and 66 which define the outlines of the storage space C, said storage space having a length slightly greater than the length of the panels A and having a width of any suitable dimension. The tips of the partition 66 may be split, as illustrated, so as to straddle the thick portion 42 of the roller 30. An opening 08 approximately at the upper left-hand corner of the space C between the partitions 86 and 60 and. positioned opposite the line of contact between the rollers 30 and 44 constitutes the entrance to the storage space C, and an opening 10 at the diagonally opposite corner of the space C and formed between the partitions 62 and 64 defines the exit therefrom. The exit 10 is positioned to the rear of the roller I2, and in the form here specifically disclosed is formed entirely by a gap in the front partition 84, that gap having a length which is a substantial proportion of the length of the panels A.

A timing mechanism generally designated 12 is mounted on plate 14 above the motor 52, that mechanism including a contact disc 16 rotated by a motor (not shown) and having a contact 18 depending therefrom and making electrical connection with flexible lead 80, the contact 18 being movable over and in electrical engagement with separated contact plates 82 and 84. So long as the depending contact 18 engages the plate 82, the lamps l will be illuminated. Whenever the depending contact 18 engages the contact plate 84 rotation of the motor 52 will commence, this taking place only after the contact 18 has left the plate 82. Hence while a panel A is stationary in the exhibiting station B the lamps I0 will be illuminated, exhibiting the panel A, but

the lights I0 will be extinguished before any movement of that panel out of the exhibiting station B and movement of the next panel A thereto.

When the motor 52 starts, the roller 44 will be driven in rotation, and hence the panel A at the exhibiting station B will start to move out therefrom. The plates 6 and 8 station B are provided at one end with apertures 86 through which a roller 88 may project, this roller being connected to arm 90 which controls snap switch 92, that switch being connected in the electrical circuit controlling the motor 52 in parallel with the switch defined by the contact I8 and the plate 84. The switch 92 is closed when the roller 88 propels through the apertures 88 (Fig. and is open when the roller 88 is forced inwardly (Fig. 2). When either of these switches are closed the motor 52 will rotate.

at the exhibiting I When both of these switches are open the motor 52 will stop.

Once the motor 52 has been started through engagement of the contact 18 and plate 84, the endless belt defined by the interconnected panels A and connecting members D will move. The plate 84 has a width sufficient to keep the motor 52 running until the panel A has moved out of the exhibiting station E, the roller 84 then springing forward closing the switch 92, thus keeping the motor 52 running even after the control 18 has left the plate 84 (see Fig. 5). The belt therefore continues to move until the next panel A has reached the exhibiting station B, the roller 88 then being forced inwardly by the leading edge I of the new panel A and stopping the motor 52. It will be apparent from Fig. 5 that the roller 88 is positioned out of line with the connecting elements D.

In order to assist in guiding the panels A into the storage space C, the partition is provided with upper and lower extensions 94 which project between the rollers 30 and 44 above and below their thick portions 42 and 48 respectively, thus engaging the leading edges I of the panels A as those panels move into the storage space C but leaving the connecting members D free to pass therebetween and fold in any convenient manner. Indeed, the partition 60 may itself be defined by a pair of' vertically separated strips in line with the extensions 94, thus further permitting freedom of folding on the part of the connecting members D. In order to prevent the connecting members D from sticking to the driving roller 44, a fingerv 96 projects between the portions 46 of the roller 44 and into the space 48, thus acting as a stripper. In order to retain tension on the endless belt and to insure the best possible motion on the part of the panels A as they leave the storage space 0, the partition 62 is provided with an extension 98, preferably resilient, which extends from the exit 10 to a point inv line with the rear surface of the roller I2. The bottom partition 64 may, if desired, either be inherently resilient or resiliently pivotally mounted so as to give slightly as a panel A is being drawn out of the storage space C, the substantial length of the exit 10 minimizing the degree to which the panel A must bend in so moving without detracting from the necessary tension on the belt, and the resiliency of the extension 98 and the partition 64, if present, further decreasing the necessity for bending.

The periphery of the roller I2 is partially encompassed by a curved plate I00 pivotally mounted on shaft I02 and prevented from swinging out too widely by pin I04, the members I02 and I04 serving to help support bracket 2|. The plate I00 acts as a guide to prevent outward buckling of the panels A as they move around the roller I2.

The length of each of the connecting ele ments D is at least equal to the length of the panels A. As a result, each panel A is permitted to slide into the storage space C through the entrance 68 in a substantially flat condition and without any folds whatsoever, the panel A being led around the roller 42 and then sliding directly into the storage space C with its leading edge I always in advance of its trailing edge 3. Further movement of the belt will cause the next connecting element D to enter the storage space C, this element D necessarily having to told if a stacked relationship of the elements in the storage space is to be maintained, but since the connecting element D is never exhibited and may be of a freely flexible nature, this is not detrimental.

As an added feature, the distance along the path of movement of the belt from the exit is to the portion of the exhibiting station E nearest thereto, and the distance along said path from the entrance 68 to the portion of the exhibiting station E nearest thereto, are each substantially equal to one another and also substantially equal to the length of each connecting element D. By reason of this arrangement, while a given panel A is being exhibited, which exhibition usually takes an appreciable period of time, that panel as Well as all of the other panels are in fiat and relatively unstressed condition, only the connecting elements D secured to opposite edges of the panel A actually being exhibited being maintained in curved position. Since they are of a freely flexible material, no harm results, whereas if the panels A were to be thus retained for any considerable period of time, they might develop a permanent set which would materially interfere with proper exhibition thereof.

Each time that the motor 52 is set into operation through electrical engagement between con tact l8 and plate 84, the driving roller s is rotated, thus pulling the connecting member D attached to the leading edge 1 of the panel A in the exhibiting station B and causing said panel to move out of the exhibiting station E and around the roller I4, the flanges on said roller controlling the vertical orientation of the panel A and the periphery of the roller 54 supporting it as it isforced to bend. The other end of said connecting member D is secured to the trailing edge 3 of the uppermost panel A in the storage space C, and the body of said connecting member D progressively folds along its own length as it passes from between the rollers 44 and 39 and moves into the storage space 0 (compare Figs. 2 and 5). When the leading edge I of said panel A passes between the rollers 44 and 30 after having been bent around the roller 30, the periphery of that roller supporting it in that curving, it slides into the storage space C at the rear thereof over the connecting member D, and hence is not required to fold or bend in any way.

While this occurs the connecting member D secured to the trailing edge 3' of said panel A originally in the exhibiting station B is pulled, and therefore, guided by the extension 98, exerts a forward pull on the leading edge I of the panel A at the front of the storage space E, thus dragging said panel A out of the storage space C in a linear, non-folding manner, only the connecting member D secured to the trailing edge 3 of that panel A having to fold progressively along its length. The extension 98, particularly when resilient, maintains the belt properly tensioned. The panel A then curves around the roller I2, being supported inwardly by the periphery thereof, vertically by the flanges thereof, and outwardly by th plate H9, and moves into the exhibiting station E between the plates 6 and 8.

As for those panels A which remain within the storage space C, they merely move forwardly in that space in a direction perpendicular to their own length, and Without folding or tension, until they become, one by one, the forwardmost panel A, after which they are drawn from the space C as above described.

It will be apparent that the general organization of the exhibiting device of the present invention, featuring close interrelation of the lengths of the display panels A and connecting elements D to one another and to the spacing of the other elements of the device, is such as to make for optimum functioning of the device, being assisted in this result by various constructional details. In particular, the panels A are protected at all stages of operation, being positively guided around all necessary curves in their path of travel, and being insulated from the necessity for folding of any sort. Thus, the life and appearance of the display panels A are protected, While the device nevertheless is adapted to contai a large number of panels A for its size.

It will be understood that many variations may be made in the details of the above disclosure, all within the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An exhibiting device comprising a frame with an exhibiting station and a storage space having an entrance and an exit at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of display panels adapted to be stacked in parallel relationship in said storage space from entranc to exit and individually movable from the entrance end of said storage space through said storage space to the exit end thereof and thence out of said exit to said exhibiting station over a curved path, means for moving and guiding said panels along said curved path, and flexible connecting elements secured between said panels, the distance from said exit to the nearest portion of said exhibiting station thereto being substantially equal to the length of said connecting elements, the length of said panels being no greater than the length of said connecting elements, so that said panels will not fold when entering, moving within or leaving said storage space, and will always be in substantially flat condition except when being moved from said storage space to said exhibiting station.

2. An exhibiting device comprising a frame with an exhibiting station and a storage space having an entrance and an exit at diagonally opposite ends thereof, a plurality of display panels adapted to be stacked in parallel relationship in said storage space from entrance to exit and individually movable from the entrance end of said storage space through said storage space to the exit end thereof, and thence along a curved path out of said exit through said exhibiting station and to and into said entrance, means for moving and guiding said panels along said curved path, and flexible connecting elements secured between said panels so as to define therewith an endless band, the distance from said exit to the nearest portion of said exhibiting station thereto being substantially equal to the distance from said entrance to the nearest portion of said exhibiting station thereto and substantially equal to the length of said connecting elements, the length of said panels being no greater than the length of said connecting elements, so that said panels will not fold When entering, moving within, or leaving said storage space, and Will always be in substantially flat condition except when being moved from said storage space to said exhibiting station or vice versa.

3. An exhibiting device comprising a frame, an exhibiting station thereon, partitions thereon defining a storage space for receiving a plurality of display panels therein in parallel stacked relationship, said partitions defining an opening constituting an entrance to said storage space at one corner of said space and an opening constituting an exit from said storage space at a corner diagonally opposite from said entrance, uides on said frame between said exit and entrance respectively and opposite portion of said exhibiting station, a plurality of display panels of a length less than the length of said storage space, flexibl connecting elements secured between said panels so as to define therewith an endless belt, said belt extending around said guides from said exit thrOugh said exhibiting station to said entrance and thence through said storage space, and means for moving said belt so as to bring said display panels one after the other to said exhibiting station, the length of said connecting elements being at least equal to the length of said display panels so that said panels will not fold when entering, moving within, or leaving said storage space.

4. The exhibiting device of claim 3, in which said guides comprises a pair of cylindrical elements adjacent and in line with said exhibiting station on opposite sides thereof and a cylindrical roller adjacent the entrance to said storage space, and in which said moving means comprises a motor and a drive roller adjacent said first-named roller and operatively connected to said motor, one of said rollers being resiliently urged toward the other, said belt being interposed between and drivingly grasped by said rollers, the line of contact between said rollers being opposite said entrance, and in which the exit from said storage space extends parallel to the direction in which said panels are oriented therein and has a length which is a substantial proportion of the length of one of the said panels, the cylindrical element to which said belt extends from said exit being spaced therefrom in a direction out of line therewith, so that said panels are somewhat bent but not folded in moving out therethrough.

5. The exhibiting device of claim 4, in which said connecting elements have a height less than that of said panels, in which the height of at least one of said rollers is less than the height of said panels, said connecting elements interposing themselves between and being drivingly grasped by said rollers, and. in which a stripper partition is disposed approximately at the line of contact of said rollers but axially spaced from said one of said rollers and extending into said storage space at the entrance thereof, thus guiding said panels into said storage space in unfolded and substantially unbent condition as they move between said rollers but leaving the connecting elements free to bend.

6. An exhibiting device comprising a frame, an exhibiting station thereon, partitions thereon defining a storage space for receiving a plurality of display panels therein in parallel stacked relationship, said partitions defining an opening constituting an entrance to said storage space at one corner of said space and an opening constituting an exit from said storage space at a corner diagonally opposite from said entrance, guides on said frame between said exit and entrance respectively and opposite portions of said exhibiting station, a plurality of display panels of a length less than the length of said storage space, flexible connecting elements secured between said panels so as to define therewith an endless belt, said belt extending through said storage space and around said guides from said exit through said exhibiting station to said entrance, said guides defining a tortuous path therefor, and means for moving said belt so as to bring said display panels one after the other to said exhibiting station, the length of said connecting elements being at least equal to the length of said display paneLs and opposite portions of said exhibiting stat-ion being spaced from said entrance and exit respectively by a distance substantially equal to the length of said connecting elements, so that said panels will not fold when entering, moving within, or leaving said storage space and will always be in substantially flat condition except when being moved from said storage space to said exhibiting station or vice versa.

7. The exhibiting device of claim 6, in which said guides comprises a pair of cylindrical elements adjacent and in line with said exhibiting station on opposite sides thereof and a cylindrical roller adjacent the entrance to said storage space, and in which said moving means comprises a motor and a drive roller adjacent said first-named roller and operatively connected to said motor, one of said rollers being resiliently urged toward the other, said belt being interposed between and drivingly grasped by said rollers, the line of contact between said rollers being opposite said entrance, and in which the exit from said storage space extends parallel to the direction in which said panels are oriented therein and has a length which is a substantial proportion of the length of one of the said panels, the cylindrical element to which said belt extends from said exit being spaced therefrom in a direction out of line therewith, so that said panels are somewhat bent but not folded in moving out therethrough.

8. The exhibiting device of claim 6, in which said guides comprise a pair of cylindrical elements adjacent and in line with said exhibiting station on opposite sides thereof and a cylindrical roller adjacent the entrance to said storage space, and in which said moving means comprises a motor and a drive roller adjacent said first-named roller and operatively connected to said motor, one of said rollers being resiliently urged toward the other, said belt being interposed between and drivingly grasped by said rollers, the line of contact between said rollers being opposite said entrance, and in which said connecting elements having a height less than that of said panels, in which the height of at least one of said rollers is less than the height of said panels, said connecting elements interposing themselves between and being drivingly grasped by said rollers, and in which a stripper partition is disposed approximately at the line of contact of said rollers but axially spaced from said one of said rollers and extending into said storage space at the entrance thereof, thus guiding said panels into said storage space in unfolded and substantially unbent condition as they move between said rollers but having the connecting elements free to bend.

WILLIAM FRANCIS OGORMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,072,861 Koike- Sept. 9, 1913 1,802,622 Van Ness Apr. 28, 1931 

